Issue 8:
October 2024
ERA4TB joins with eight other AMR Accelerator projects in call for sustainable funding
Antibiotic resistance is a threat to the vision to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2035. The ERA4TB project, along with eight other European research projects have published a call for sustainable investment in antimicrobial research and antibiotics development in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, emphasizing the need to maintain expertise and capability for new treatments for infectious diseases, like TB.
This call was released to coincide with the UN High Level meeting on antimicrobial resistance that took place in New York on 26 September 2024.
Read the article here.
Upcoming Webinar on effectively engaging with regulatory bodies – 6th November
On 6th November 2024, 15:00-16:30 CET, the AMR Accelerator’s COMBINE and ERA4TB projects are hosting a webinar featuring Dr. Radu Botgros, Senior Scientific Officer for the Office of Health Threats and Vaccines Strategy at the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
During this webinar, Dr. Botgros will explain the role of regulators and guide participants on how to best engage with the EMA, including what to expect, and what not to expect from these interactions. You can also ask direct questions during the Q&A session!
Take advantage of this chance to expand your knowledge of the role of regulators in the drug development pathway and engage with an expert at the forefront of public health.
Register to attend the webinar
Register now for the ERA4TB hosted Workshop at The Union Conference – 12 November
We are delighted to announce that this year, ERA4TB will be hosting a workshop at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) annual conference on lung health in Bali, Indonesia on the 12th November 2024! The workshop “TB Drug Regimens Development School: Advanced Preclinical and Translational tools within the Public-Private ERA4TB consortium hub” is free for attendees at the conference and can be booked during registration for the conference.
Register for the Union Conference here
First joint Symposium held with fellow TB Project, UNITE4TB
ERA4TB’s annual consortium meeting held in Sweden between 13-14th May, was, for the first time, followed by a full-day joint symposium on 15th May with fellow Innovative Medicines Initiative funded project, UNITE4TB.
The inaugural joint symposium saw nearly 200 members of the two TB-focused projects come together, to hear about each other’s work, discuss possible synergies and have networking opportunities. The day covered the work being done on innovative techniques in pre-clinical research, biomarkers, use of computer modelling to inform clinical trials, developing a TB core outcome set, and the strategy for new TB treatment combinations.
A final session saw both ERA4TB’s and UNITE4TB’s Scientific Advisory Board members come together for a lively debate with the audience over the future of TB treatments.
Read more.

ERA4TB Researchers take part in European Researcher’s Night
On the 27th of September 2024, ERA4TB researchers from The University of Zaragoza, Spain, and The University of Pavia, Italy, took part in local events hosted as part of the European Researcher’s night. The European Researchers’ Night is the largest science outreach project in Europe, taking place simultaneously in almost 400 cities. It gives members of the public a glimpse into the fascinating world of science, with a chance to see what happens behind the scenes of major universities and research institutes.
New publications on innovative in vitro methods and economic evaluations of TB treatments
April saw two new publications from ERA4TB partners:
- Evaluation of critical parameters in the hollow-fibre system for tuberculosis: A case study of moxifloxacin. – authored by ERA4TB members from the University of Zaragoza, University of Uppsala and the Institute Pasteur de Lille on behalf of the ERA4TB Consortium. The paper discusses the critical parameters in the innovative Hollow Fibre System, being used within ERA4TB, that are currently overlooked and need to be considered when reporting novel results, to ensure interlaboratory reproducibility of results.
- A systematic review of economic evaluations of pharmacological treatments for active tuberculosis – authored by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The paper examined the cost effectiveness of existing pharmacological interventions against TB to identify key drivers of cost effectiveness and value needed to guide pharmaceutical innovation and novel drug regimen development.
Interview with Diana A. Aguilar Ayala (In Vitro Work Package)
We recently interviewed Diana A. Aguilar Ayala a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Zaragoza, Spain working on Work Package 2, which focuses on in vitro experiments. The full interview is available on the ERA4TB website blog page, some highlights are below.
Tell us about your role within ERA4TB
I’m a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR), in charge of the implementation and execution of drug susceptibility tests using both traditional methods and new technologies. I’m also involved in coordinating scientific communication activities.
Why is the ERA4TB project important?
ERA4TB fosters a collaborative European network of researchers and industry partners, combining expertise to tackle tuberculosis (TB) on a global scale. The work within ERA4TB is crucial because it accelerates the development of new and effective TB drugs, particularly in the face of rising drug resistance. The implementation of advanced tools allows us to test potential treatments more efficiently, moving them faster from the lab to clinical trials and ultimately to patients. This strategy offers a cost-effective pathway to a successful drug development, reducing risks, attrition costs and failure.
What are some upcoming events where you will be showcasing ERA4TB’s work and engaging with the community?
Beyond my laboratory bench, I enjoy participating in forums that allow me to share ERA4TB achievements and insights with both scientific and general audiences. I am particularly excited about our first in-person workshop at the Union World Conference in Bali on November 12th. This 3-hour interactive session will cover key concepts and tools from ERA4TB experience, with top experts from each work package guiding practical exercises.
ERA4TB Portfolio Status
Overview of ERA4TB Asset Progression Plans (APPs). At present, 15 different molecules are being progressed in the ERA4TB pipeline where in-vivo, in-vitro, preclinical development activities and First-in-Human studies are being undertaken in parallel, as shown below.

Upcoming events and activities
- Webinar on effectively engaging with regulatory bodies. 6th November 2024, Virtual. Register here.
- The Union World Conference on Lung Health. 12-16 November 2024, Bali. Register here.
- TB Drug Regimens Development School: Advanced Preclinical and Translational tools within the Public-Private ERA4TB consortium hub. 12 November 2024, Bali. Sign-up to attend via registration to The Union Conference.
- 9th AMR Conference – 25-26February 2024, Basel. Find out more.